London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) has confirmed it will enhance its plug-in hybrid VN5 light van with a larger and more efficient battery.
The 34.6 kWh unit upgrades LEVC’s eCity powertrain with increased capacity, up from 31 kWh, and greater efficiency with reduced CO2 emissions.
The vehicle’s electric-only range has improved to 73 miles, up from 64 miles, delivering 328 miles in total.
Due to the new battery, the VN5 emits 17g/km of CO2, down from 19g/km.
LEVC manufactures its purpose-built, range extended electric van and taxi models at a factory in Ansty, Coventry.
Since 2014, Geely has invested more than £500m into LEVC, allowing it to build an entirely new eco-friendly manufacturing facility, the UK’s first dedicated to the production of electric vehicles.
The TX taxi will also benefit from the battery upgrade.
Alex Nan, Chief Executive of LEVC, said: “With thousands of our vehicles sold around the world, LEVC’s eCity technology is the powertrain choice for the modern taxi driver.
“The updated battery further bolsters the already compelling business case for our customers, with significant benefits for drivers and owner operators, while helping to improve air quality in urban environments.”
In May, LEVC revealed its new Space Oriented Architecture (SOA) EV platform, co-developed with Geely.
According to LEVC, it can support a wide range of new products, from passenger carrying models to commercial vehicles, offering significant advances in range, efficiency, safety, charging time, durability and connectivity.
